Catread control mechanism



Sept. 17, 1935. c, w HUBERT 2,014,683

' CATHEAD CONTROL MECHANISM Filed 00x. 16, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet iInventor W HuZei-Z Sept. 17, 1935. c. w. HUBERT CATHEAD CONTROLMECHANISM 3 Sheets-Shec 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1954 I Inventor C, 14/. A uZerfAttorney Sept. 17, 1935. c. w. HUBERT CATHEAD CONTROL MECHANISM 5Sheets-Sheet 5 i I .F' iled Oct. 16, 1934 Inventor V Attofney PatentedSept. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES AENT FHQE CATHEAD CONTROL MECHANISM ClarkW. Hubert, Childress, Tex.

Application October 16, 1934, Serial N 0. 748,543

4 Claims.

This invention relates to load handling apparatus and more particularlyto what is commonly known as a cathead. An object of the invention is toprovide in an apparatus of this 5: character substantially automaticsafety means for the protection of the operator in the event the handsof the operator are fouled. in the rope on the cathead.

In accordance with the present invention an 10: improved brake andoperating means therefor are provided and adapted to be controlled bythe foot in such a manner that in the event of the fouling of theoperators hands in the rope of the cathead, as above suggested, the footof the oper- 153 ator will be jerked out of engagement with the brakecontrolling means so that the brake will automatically operate to applybraking action to the drum and thereby prevent further operation of thecathead.

20 This invention together with its objects and advantages will bebetter understood from a study of the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a cathead 5 embodying thefeatures of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail sectional view therethrough.

Figures 3 and 4 are detail views taken substantially on the lines 3-3and 44 respectively of 30; Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure1.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that thenumeral I in- 35 dicates a line or power shaft which is suitably mountedin bearings in upright supports II, and which is driven from anysuitable source of power.

On one end of the shaft II) is a sleeve or hub I2,

40 and the shaft I0 and sleeve or hub I2 have mating ways with which isengaged a key I3 so that the hub or sleeve I2 is secured to the shaft I0 to rotate therewith. On one end of the sleeve or hub I2 is the catheadI4 that has an integral 45 cylindrical portion I4a at one end.Interposed between the eathead I4 and the sleeve or hub I 2 is asuitable bushing I5. Bushing I5 is flanged at one end as at I511toengage the cathead internally of the cylindrical part I ia thereof and50 is also provided with a flange IE2) at an opposite end against whichare threaded home lock nuts I6 on one end of the sleeve I2. Internallyof the part Ma of the cathead the sleeve I2 is provided with an integralclutch disk IT. A sliding clutch 55 disk I8 is arranged between theclutch disk I! and a third clutch disk I9. On its outer circular headthe clutch disk I8 is provided with notches or ways in which are engagedthe keys 2!] provided internally of the part I la of the cathead. Theclutch member 59 is secured to a hub ltd 5 provided internally with waysin which are engaged the keys 211' provided on the hub or sleeve I2. Itwill thus be seen that when the clutch disk is is moved toward the leftin Figure 2 to frictionally engage the clutch disk Il with the 10 clutchdisk l8 pressed against the clutch disk I! that the hub I2 is placed indriving engagement with the cathead It so that the latter will rotatewith the shaft It].

For shifting the clutch disk to effect the placthe fork 23 being pivotedit will be apparent that a swinging movement of the fork 23 will causethe collar 22 and the disk 2! to move lengthwise of the shaft I9.

The collar 22 and hub of disk 2i are housed within a hollow casing ordrum 25 bolted or other i wise secured at 26 to a fixed plate 21equipped with a hub and bushing assembly 23 through which the shaft It!extends. The disk or plate 27 is supported in fixed position through themedium of a bracket 29 mounted on the standard II. The casing or drum 25is provided with an opening through which the fork 23 extends andarranged in the opening is a pivot 3i! for the fork 23.

At the side thereof opposite to the disk 27 the drum or casing 25 isreduced diametrically and is provided with an integral apertured wall tIto the outer side of which is secured as at 32 a ring like member 33.Secured to the member 33 to rotate therewith, and also to slide axiallythereof is a brake disk 34 between which and the friction providedsurface of the plate or end wall 3I is a friction disk 35 the outeredges of which are provided with ways with which the keys 20 areengaged. It will thus be seen that by manipulating the fork 33 to shiftthe disk 2| to the right in Figure 1 disks 34 and 35 will be mountedagainst one another and against the plate or wall BI of the fixed drum25, and by reason of the disk 35 being engaged, in a manner justdescribed, with the cathead M a braking action will be applied to thecathead while at the same time disk It! will be relieved thusinterrupting the drive connection between the shaft ID and the catheadHi.

The disk 2| is normally urged to the right in Figure 2 through themedium of a shifter plate 36 between which and the wall 3| of the drum35 are arranged in a circular series springs 31. The shifter plate 35 isprovided with a hollow hub in which is located a thrust bearing 38 thatis always in direct contact with the collar 22. Thus the springs 31acting on the plate 36 will in turn normally urge the disk 2| andassociated parts to the right in Figure 2.

For operating the fork 23 to place the shaft H3 in driving engagementwith the cathead l4 there is pivotally mounted on a bracket 39 a dog orwedge member 49 one end of which is adapted to engage the lower end ofthe fork 23. A foot lever 4| is disposed substantially diagonal to theaxis of the dog 40 and adjacent one end is pivotally mounted as at 42.At its pivoted end the lever 4| is notched as at 43, to engage the dogAll in a manner clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5 so that when the footis placed on the lever 4| and the latter is depressed dog is will beforced to rotate in a clockwise direction thus causing the fork 23 torotate in a counterclockwise direction to shift the disk 2| toward theleft in Figure 2 to thereby, through the medium of the disks I7, l3 andI9 place the cathead M in driving engagement with the shaft Hi. It willbe apparent that the cathead M will remain in driving engagement withthe shaft ID as long as the foot is applied to the lever l4.

From the above it will be apparent that in the event for example, thehands of the operator become fouled in the cable the foot of theoperator will be jerked off the pedal H. Springs 31 will then act on theplate 36 to move the same together with collar 22 and associated disk 2|toward the ri ht in Figure 2. Movement of the disk 2| in this directionwill crowd the brake disk 34 against the brake disk 35, and the latterdisk against the Wall 3| of the fixed drum 25. As a result, disk 35being engaged with the cathead a braking action will be applied to thecathead to prevent rotation of the latter while at the same time thedrive connection between the shaft l8 and the cathead M will beinterrupted. The cathead !4 being thus brought to a stop the possibilityof serious injury to the operator will be reduced to a minimum.

In connection with the above it will be apparent that movement of theplate 35 to the right in Figure 2 under action of spring 37 as justexplained, will result in a rocking of the fork 23 in a clockwisedirection which in turn will cause the dog M to rock in acounter-clockwise direction, and this dog engaging the notched end 43 ofthe lever 4| will depress said end of the lever thus returning the lever4| to the raised position shown in Figure 2.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a load handling apparatus having a power shaft and a catheadloosely mounted thereon, clutch mechanism for placing said shaft intoand out of driving engagement with the cathead and including a fixedclutch disk rotatable with the shaft, a shiftable clutch disk rotatablewith the shaft, and an intermediate shiftable clutch disk rotatable withthe cathead adapted to be clamped between the first and second disks forplacing the shaft in driving engagement with the cathead; and brakemechanism for stopping the cathead incidental to a release of theintermediate disk, said brake mechanism including an actuator diskarranged at the side of the second disk opposite to said intermediatedisk, said brake means further including a fixed brake drum having anintegral wall presenting a brake surface on one side thereof, an annularmember secured to said wall of the brake drum at the brake surface sidethereof, a non-rotating brake disk mounted on ie annular member to shiftaxially thereof, and a rotatable and axially movable brake disk carriedby the cathead and located between said non-rotating brake disk and thebrake drum wall to be frictionally engaged therewith to apply a brakingaction to the cathead when the actuator disk is shifted to release thedisks of the clutch mechanism.

2. A control mechanism common to the clutch and brake mechanism of acathead, and comprising a normally elevated pivoted foot pedal, apivoted shifting fork, and a pivotally mounted dog having one end freelyengaging said shifting fork, and a second end freely engaging saidpedal.

3. In a cathead, clutch and brake mechanisms therefor, a pivotedshifting fork common to said mechanisms, a pivoted foot pedal, and apivotally mounted dog having an end freely and laterally engaging theshifting fork and a second end having free overlapping engagement withsaid pedal.

i. In a load handling apparatus including a cathead and clutch and brakemechanisms for the cathead, control mechanism common to said clutch andbrake mechanisms and including a normally elevated pivoted foot pedaladapted to be depressed for engaging the clutch and to be elevated whenthe clutch is released and the brake is engaged, a shifting fork commonto said clutch and brake mechanisms and a pivotally mounted dog havingan end freely engaging the shifting fork and a second end freelyengaging said pedal.

CLARK W. HUBERT.

